From Joseph Obukata (The New Diplomat’s N’Delta Correspondent)
The Bayelsa state Commissioner of Police, CP Mike Okoli, has set up a special squad to mop-up illegal firearms in the state.
The development, followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, to State Commissioners of Police to initiate appropriate actions and identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual(s) or group (s) in possession of illegal firearms.
This comes a day after three rival militant groups clashed in the state over the control of illegal oil bunkering camp which reportedly left at least seven persons dead.
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The militant groups had engaged in a shootout after one of the groups took control of the caches of weapons hidden in one of the militant den in the state.
The Special Squad on illegal firearms headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, is saddled with the responsibility of mopping up illegal firearms in the State among other firearms related infractions, SP Asinim Butswat, Police Public Relations Officer, in the state said in a statement on Friday.
“The Bayelsa State Police Command therefore, will henceforth treat and prosecute persons arrested for unlawful possession of firearms as terrorists, armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists.
“This was made known by the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State during a meeting with vigilante groups at the Police Headquarters on 19 August, 2020.
“The CP further enjoined all vigilante members to continue to support the Police in fighting crime in the State.
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“The Command hereby call on the peace loving people of Bayelsa State to cooperate and assist the Police in the enforcement of this order, as it is aimed at ensuring safety of lives and property in Bayelsa State,” the statement added.
